<strong>Alamut Castle:</strong> An almost invisible Alamut Castle stands perched atop a stark ridge. The fortress was the first bolthole of an ancient sect that spawned the word "assassin."
Alamut Castle: An almost invisible Alamut Castle stands perched atop a stark ridge. The fortress was the first bolthole of an ancient sect that spawned the word "assassin."
Amar Grover
<strong>Alborz Mountains: </strong>The castle and surrounding mountains can be reached on a day trip or weekend excursion from Tehran. This photo shows the first views of the Alamut Valley near Rajei Dasht after crossing the pass on the road from Qazvin.
Alborz Mountains: The castle and surrounding mountains can be reached on a day trip or weekend excursion from Tehran. This photo shows the first views of the Alamut Valley near Rajei Dasht after crossing the pass on the road from Qazvin.
Amar Grover
<strong>Gazorkhan village: </strong>The village of Gazorkhan sits beneath an impenetrable-looking wall of jagged peaks. A steep trail winds up the hillside toward Alamut Castle.
Gazorkhan village: The village of Gazorkhan sits beneath an impenetrable-looking wall of jagged peaks. A steep trail winds up the hillside toward Alamut Castle.
Amar Grover
<strong>Alamut dwellings: </strong>Simpler flat-roofed houses like these at Bahramabad village dominate the lower Alamut Valley near Razmian.
Alamut dwellings: Simpler flat-roofed houses like these at Bahramabad village dominate the lower Alamut Valley near Razmian.
Amar Grover
<strong>Green valley: </strong>Orchards and rice paddies line an Alamut side-valley near Andej village.
Green valley: Orchards and rice paddies line an Alamut side-valley near Andej village.
Amar Grover
<strong>Working the fields: </strong>Villagers plant rice in terraced paddies in the Alamut Valley.
Working the fields: Villagers plant rice in terraced paddies in the Alamut Valley.
Amar Grover
<strong>Hiking into the mountains: </strong>The trail to Alamut Castle levels out at a small saddle before the final climb to its main gates.
Hiking into the mountains: The trail to Alamut Castle levels out at a small saddle before the final climb to its main gates.
Amar Grover
<strong>Pichebon Caravanserai: </strong>The Pichebon Caravanserai stands close to the Salambar Pass, where Mongol invaders may have reached.
Pichebon Caravanserai: The Pichebon Caravanserai stands close to the Salambar Pass, where Mongol invaders may have reached.
Amar Grover
<strong>Resisting invaders: </strong>Lamiasar was the scene of stiff resistance to Mongol invaders. While Alamut gets a regular stream of visitors, Lamiasar appears to receive almost none.
Resisting invaders: Lamiasar was the scene of stiff resistance to Mongol invaders. While Alamut gets a regular stream of visitors, Lamiasar appears to receive almost none.
Amar Grover
<strong>Geological sideshows: </strong>Odd rock formations enliven an Alamut side-valley near Andej village.
Geological sideshows: Odd rock formations enliven an Alamut side-valley near Andej village.
Amar Grover
<strong>Nevisar Shah: </strong>It takes goat-like agility and stamina to reach the remains of Nevisar Shah castle, which lie among pinnacles of rock high above Garmaroud village.
Nevisar Shah: It takes goat-like agility and stamina to reach the remains of Nevisar Shah castle, which lie among pinnacles of rock high above Garmaroud village.
Amar Grover